THE MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY FLIP-FLOPS OF JOHN KERRYI got a comment from someone calling himself diogenes in the CANDIDATE WAFFLES post. He asked me if I've ever done research on Kerry's waffles or if I've blindly accepted them. Well, there's not much research you have to do to know the real John Kerry. But I went out looking and found a blog that gives a VERY comprehensive list of his flips. I know a lot of people don't like just cutting and pasting from other sites, but there is just WAY too much stuff to retype to make it my own post. So I'm just going to quote him on it. And yes Jake, I did read it.

In First Dem Debate, Kerry Strongly Supported Presidents Action In Iraq. KERRY: George, I said at the time I would have preferred if we had given diplomacy a greater opportunity, but I think it was the right decision to disarm Saddam Hussein, and when the President made the decision, I supported him, and I support the fact that we did disarm him. (ABC News, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/4/03)

Kerry Later Claimed He Voted To Threaten Use Of Force In Iraq. I voted to threaten the use of force to make Saddam Hussein comply with the resolutions of the United Nations. (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At Announcement Of Presidential Candidacy, Mount Pleasant, SC, 9/2/03)

Now, Kerry Says He Is Anti-War Candidate. CHRIS MATTHEWS: Do you think you belong to that category of candidates who more or less are unhappy with this war, the way its been fought, along with General Clark, along with Howard Dean and not necessarily in companionship politically on the issue of the war with people like Lieberman, Edwards and Gephardt? Are you one of the anti-war candidates? KERRY: I am -- Yes, in the sense that I dont believe the president took us to war as he should have, yes, absolutely. (MSNBCs Hardball, 1/6/04)

Flip-Flopped On Eliminating Marriage Penalty For Middle Class

Kerry Said He Will Fight To Keep Tax Relief For Married Couples. Howard Dean and Gephardt are going to put the marriage penalty back in place. So if you get married in America, were going to charge you more taxes. I do not want to do that. (Fox News Special Report, 10/23/03)

Said Democrats Fought To End Marriage Penalty Tax. We fought hard to get rid of the marriage penalty. (MSNBCs News Live, 7/31/03)

Kerry Used To Defend His Vote. Most of [The Patriot Act] has to do with improving the transfer of information between CIA and FBI, and it has to do with things that really were quite necessary in the wake of what happened on September 11th. (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At Town Hall Meeting, Manchester, NH, 8/6/03)

Now, Kerry Attacks Patriot Act. We are a nation of laws and liberties, not of a knock in the night. So it is time to end the era of John Ashcroft. That starts with replacing the Patriot Act with a new law that protects our people and our liberties at the same time. Ive been a District Attorney and I know that what law enforcement needs are real tools not restrictions on Americans basic rights. (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At Iowa State University, 12/1/03)

Kerry Took BOTH Sides On First Gulf War

Kerry Took BOTH Sides In First Gulf War In Separate Letters To Same Constituent. Rather than take a side--albeit the one he thought was most expedient--Kerry actually stood on both sides of the first Gulf war, much like he did this time around. Consider this Notebook item from TNRs March 25, 1991 issue, which ran under the headline Same Senator, Same Constituent: Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition ... to the early use of military force by the US against Iraq. I share your concerns. On January 11, I voted in favor of a resolution that would have insisted that economic sanctions be given more time to work and against a resolution giving the president the immediate authority to go to war. --letter from Senator John Kerry to Wallace Carter of Newton Centre, Massachusetts, dated January 22 [1991] Thank you very much for contacting me to express your support for the actions of President Bush in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. From the outset of the invasion, I have strongly and unequivocally supported President Bushs response to the crisis and the policy goals he has established with our military deployment in the Persian Gulf. --Senator Kerry to Wallace Carter, January 31 [1991] (Noam Scheiber, Noam Scheibers Daily Journal of Politics, The New Republic Online, 1/28/04)

Flip-Flopped On Gay Marriage Amendment

In 2002, Kerry Signed Letter Urging MA Legislature To Reject Constitutional Amendment Banning Gay Marriage. We rarely comment on issues that are wholly within the jurisdiction of the General Court, but there are occasions when matters pending before you are of such significance to all residents of the Commonwealth that we think it appropriate for us to express our opinion. One such matter is the proposed Constitutional amendment that would prohibit or seriously inhibit any legal recognition whatsoever of same-sex relationships. We believe it would be a grave error for Massachusetts to enshrine in our Constitution a provision which would have such a negative effect on so many of our fellow residents. We are therefore united in urging you to reject this Constitutional amendment and avoid stigmatizing so many of our fellow citizens who do not deserve to be treated in such a manner. (Sen. John Kerry, et al, Letter To Members Of The Massachusetts Legislature, 7/12/02)

Now, In 2004, Kerry Wont Rule Out Supporting Similar Amendment. Asked if he would support a state constitutional amendment barring gay and lesbian marriages, Kerry didnt rule out the possibility. Ill have to see what language there is, he said. (Susan Milligan, Kerry Says GOP May Target Him On Wedge Issue, The Boston Globe, 2/6/04)

Flip-Flopped On Attacking President During Time Of War

In March 2003, Kerry Promised Not To Attack President When War Began. Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts said he will cease his complaints once the shooting starts. Its what you owe the troops, said a statement from Kerry, a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. I remember being one of those guys and reading news reports from home. If America is at war, I wont speak a word without measuring how itll sound to the guys doing the fighting when theyre listening to their radios in the desert. (Glen Johnson, Democrats On The Stump Plot Their War Rhetoric, The Boston Globe, 3/11/03)

But Weeks Later, With Troops Just Miles From Baghdad, Kerry Broke His Pledge. What we need now is not just a regime change in Saddam Hussein and Iraq, but we need a regime change in the United States, Kerry said in a speech at the Peterborough Town Library. Despite pledging two weeks ago to cool his criticism of the administration once war began, Kerry unleashed a barrage of criticism as US troops fought within 25 miles of Baghdad. (Glen Johnson, Kerry Says Us Needs Its Own Regime Change, The Boston Globe, 4/3/03)

But, In 2002, Kerry Said He Supported Death Penalty For Terrorists. KERRY: The law of the land is the law of the land, but I have also said that I am for the death penalty for terrorists because terrorists have declared war on your country. (NBCs Meet The Press, 12/1/02)

But Now Kerry Is Attacking No Child Left Behind As Mockery. Between now and the time Im sworn in January 2005, Im going to use every day to make this president accountable for making a mockery of the words No Child Left Behind. (Holly Ramer, Kerry Wants To Make Environmental Justice A Priority, The Associated Press, 4/22/03)

Kerry Trashed NCLB As Unfunded Mandate With Laudable Goals. Kerry referred to [No Child Left Behind] as an unfunded mandate with laudable goals. Without the resources, education reform is a sham, Kerry said. I cant wait to crisscross this country and hold this president accountable for making a mockery of the words no child left behind. (Matt Leon, Sen. Kerry In Tune With Educators, The [Quincy, MA] Patriot Ledger, 7/11/03)

Flip-Flopped On Affirmative Action

In 1992, Kerry Called Affirmative Action Inherently Limited And Divisive. [W]hile praising affirmative action as one kind of progress that grew out of civil rights court battles, Kerry said the focus on a rights-based agenda has inadvertently driven most of our focus in this country not to the issue of what is happening to the kids who do not get touched by affirmative action, but toward an inherently limited and divisive program which is called affirmative action. That agenda is limited, he said, because it benefits segments of black and minority populations, but not all. And it is divisive because it creates a perception and a reality of reverse discrimination that has actually engendered racism. (Lynne Duke, Senators Seek Serious Dialogue On Race, The Washington Post, 4/8/92)

In 2004, Kerry Denied Ever Having Called Affirmative Action Divisive. CNNs KELLY WALLACE: We caught up with the Senator, who said he never called affirmative action divisive, and accused Clark of playing politics. SEN. KERRY: Thats not what I said. I said there are people who believe that. And I said mend it, dont end it. Hes trying to change what I said, but you can go read the quote. I said very clearly I have always voted for it. Ive always supported it. Ive never, ever condemned it. I did what Jim Clyburn did and what Bill Clinton did, which is mend it. And Jim Clyburn wouldnt be supporting it if it were otherwise. So lets not have any politics here. Lets keep the truth. (CNNs Inside Politics, 1/30/04)

On The Campaign Trail, Though, Kerry Is For Ethanol. KERRY: Im for ethanol, and I think its a very important partial ingredient of the overall mix of alternative and renewable fuels we ought to commit to. (MSNBC/DNC, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Des Moines, IA, 11/24/03)

In 2000, Kerry Said Florida Politics Is Only Reason Cuba Sanctions Still In Place. Senator John F. Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat and member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said in an interview that a reevaluation of relations with Cuba was way overdue. We have a frozen, stalemated, counterproductive policy that is not in humanitarian interests nor in our larger credibility interest in the region, Kerry said. It speaks volumes about the problems in the current American electoral process. The only reason we dont reevaluate the policy is the politics of Florida. (John Donnelly, Policy Review Likely On Cuba, The Boston Globe, 4/9/00)

Kerry Does Not Support Opening Up The Embargo Wily Nilly. Kerry said he believes in engagement with the communist island nation but that does not mean, Open up the dialogue. He believes it means travel and perhaps even remittances or cultural exchanges but he does not support opening up the embargo wily nilly. (Daniel A. Ricker, Kerry Says Bush Did Not Build A Legitimate Coalition In Iraq, The Miami Herald, 11/25/03)

Now, Kerry Expresses Doubt About NAFTA. Kerry, who voted for NAFTA in 1993, expressed some doubt about the strength of free-trade agreements. If it were before me today, I would vote against it because it doesnt have environmental or labor standards in it, he said. (David Lightman, Democrats Battle For Labors Backing, Hartford Courant, 8/6/03)

Flip-Flopped On Double Taxation Of Dividends

December 2002: Kerry Favored Ending Double Taxation Of Dividends. [T]o encourage investments in the jobs of the future - I think we should eliminate the tax on capital gains for investments in critical technology companies - zero capital gains on $100 million issuance of stock if its held for 5 years and has created real jobs. And we should attempt to end the double taxation of dividends. (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At The City Club Of Cleveland, 12/3/02)

May 2003: Kerry Said He Opposed Ending Double Taxation Of Dividends. Kerry also reiterated his opposition to the Republican plan to cut taxes on stock dividends. This is not the time for a dividends tax cut that goes to individuals, he said. (Kerry Says Time Is On Dems Side, The Associated Press, 5/8/03)

Flip-Flopped On Raising Taxes During Economic Downturn

September 2001: Said Should Not Raise Taxes In Economic Downturn. The first priority is the economy of our nation. And when you have a downturn in the economy, the last thing you do is raise taxes or cut spending. We shouldnt do either. We need to maintain a course that hopefully will stimulate the economy. . . . No, we should not raise taxes, but we have to put everything on the table to take a look at why we have this structural problem today. . . .[Y]ou dont want to raise taxes. (NBCs Meet The Press, 9/2/01)

We Should Absolutely Not Raise Taxes. Well, I think its very clear what I favor because we voted for it early in the spring, which was the Democratic budget alternative that had triggers in it where you didnt wind up spending money you dont have. It had a smaller tax cut but more tax cut for a stimulus, which is what we need. So you ask me, what do we need now? Yes, we need additional stimulus. We should absolutely not raise taxes. We should not cut spending. What we need to do is drive the economy of this country. The economy is the number one issue. It is the most important thing we should focus on. (CNNs Evans, Novak, Hunt & Shields, 9/8/01)

April 2002: Said He Wanted Larger Tax Cut And Was Not In Favor Of Repeal. CNNs TUCKER CARLSON: Senator Kerry . . . [many Democrats] [g]et a lot of political mileage out of criticizing [President Bushs tax cut], but nobody has the courage to say repeal it. Are you for repealing it? KERRY: Its not a question of courage. . . . And its not an issue right now. We passed appropriately a tax cut as a stimulus, some $40 billion. Many of us thought it should have even maybe been a little bit larger this last year [T]he next tax cut doesnt take effect until 2004. If we can grow the economy enough between now and then, if we have sensible policies in place and make good choices, who knows what our choices will be. So its simply not a ripe issue right now. And Im not in favor of turning around today and repealing it. (CNNs Crossfire, 4/16/02)

December 2002: Flip-Flopped, Would Keep Tax Cuts From Taking Effect. NBCs TIM RUSSERT: Senator . . . should we freeze or roll back the Bush tax cut? KERRY: Well, I wouldnt take away from people whove already been given their tax cut What I would not do is give any new Bush tax cuts. RUSSERT: So the tax cut thats scheduled to be implemented in the coming years  KERRY: No new tax cut under the Bush plan. . . . It doesnt make economic sense. RUSSERT: Now, this is a change  (NBCs Meet The Press, 12/1/02)

Called For Freeze Of Bush Tax Cuts In Favor Of Year-Long Suspension Of Payroll Taxes On First $10,000 Of Personal Income. Kerry said Bushs tax cuts have mainly benefited the rich while doing little for the economy. Kerry is proposing to halt Bushs additional tax cuts and instead impose a yearlong suspension of payroll taxes on the first $10,000 of income to help the poor and middle class. (Tyler Bridges, Kerry Visits Miami To Start Raising Funds, The Miami Herald, 12/7/02)

Kerry Claimed He Fought To Exempt Small Businesses From Income Tax Increases. I worked to amend the reconciliation bill so that it would exempt small businesses who are classified as subchapter S corporations from the increased individual income tax. (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 6/29/93, p. S 8268)

Kerry Used To Say Abortion Should Be Left Up To States. I think the question of abortion is one that should be left for the states to decide, Kerry said during his failed 1972 Congressional bid. (John Kerry On The Issues, The [Lowell, MA] Sun, 10/11/72)

Now Kerry Says Abortion Is Law Of Entire Nation. The right to choose is the law of the United States. No person has the right to infringe on that freedom. Those of us who are in government have a special responsibility to see to it that the United States continues to protect this right, as it must protect all rights secured by the constitution. (Sen. John Kerry [D-MA], Congressional Record, 1/22/85)

Flip-Flopped On Litmus Tests For Judicial Nominees

Kerry Used To Oppose Litmus Tests For Judicial Nominees. Throughout two centuries, our federal judiciary has been a model institution, one which has insisted on the highest standards of conduct by our public servants and officials, and which has survived with undiminished respect. Today, I fear that this institution is threatened in a way that we have not seen before. This threat is that of the appointment of a judiciary which is not independent, but narrowly ideological, through the systematic targeting of any judicial nominee who does not meet the rigid requirements of litmus tests imposed  (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 2/3/86, p. S864)

But Now Kerry Says He Would Only Support Supreme Court Nominees Who Pledge To Uphold Roe v. Wade. The potential retirement of Supreme Court justices makes the 2004 presidential election especially important for women, Senator John F. Kerry told a group of female Democrats yesterday, and he pledged that if elected president he would nominate to the high court only supporters of abortion rights under its Roe v. Wade decision. Any president ought to appoint people to the Supreme Court who understand the Constitution and its interpretation by the Supreme Court. In my judgment, it is and has been settled law that women, Americans, have a defined right of privacy and that the government does not make the decision with respect to choice. Individuals do. (Glen Johnson, Kerry Vows Court Picks To Be Abortion-Rights Supporters, The Boston Globe, 4/9/03)

He's Flipped AgainThis one's mine. Kerry has flipped yet again on this one. He now says that he would be open to appointing pro-life judges, as long as they weren't the deciding vote in overturning Roe v. Wade.

Flip-Flopped On Federal Health Benefits

In 1993, Kerry Expressed Doubts That Federal Employees Health Benefits System Worked Well. Hillary Rodham Clinton today offered a fresh description of one of the most confusing elements of the Administration health care plan, the health insurance purchasing alliances, saying they would let all Americans choose coverage in the way members of Congress do. Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, said he was not sure that the Federal program worked all that well. (Adam Clymer, Hillary Clinton Says Health Plan Will Be Familiar, The New York Times, 12/8/93)

Kerry Expressed Personal Dissatisfaction With His Coverage Through Federal Program. Earlier this month, when Hillary Rodham Clinton came to Boston and vowed that average Americans would get as good coverage as that enjoyed by their senators and representatives, Sen. John F. Kerry told Clinton that he thought the country could do better. The Massachusetts Democrat said he was thinking, among other recent disasters, of his $500 dental bill for treatment of an abscessed tooth. Because it was done in the dentists office, rather than the hospital, they didnt cover it. So they were urging me to go spend twice as much in a hospital, said Kerry, who is covered by BACE, the Beneficial Association of Capitol Employees. (Ana Puga, Lawmakers Talk Health Care, The Boston Globe, 12/19/93)

Now, On Campaign Trail, Kerry Is Enthusiastic About Health Care He Receives As Senator. As a U.S. Senator, I could get the best health care in the world. Most people arent so lucky, and we need to change that. Thats why my plan gives every American access to the same kind of health care that members of Congress give themselves. Because your familys health care is just as important as any politicians in Washington. (Sen. John Kerry, Affordable Health Care For All Americans, Remarks At Mercy Medical, Cedar Rapids, IA, 12/14/03)

Kerry: Im Going To Make Available To Every American The Same Health Care Plan That Senators And Congressmen Give Themselves  (Sen. John Kerry, AARP Democrat Candidate Debate, Bedford, NH, 11/18/03)

Now, Kerry Promises Refundable Tax Credits To Small Businesses For Health Coverage. Refundable tax credits for up to 50 percent of the cost of coverage will be offered to small businesses and their employees to make health care more affordable. (John Kerrys Plan To Make Health Care Affordable To Every American, John Kerry For President Website, www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 1/21/04)

In 1993, Kerry Voted To Kill Bipartisan Welfare Work Requirement. In 1993, Kerry and Kennedy voted against a welfare-to-work requirement that was supported by many Democrats, including Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Harry Reid (D-NV):

Kerry Said Expensing Options Would Not Benefit The Investing Public. KERRY: Mr. President, the Financial Accounting Standards Board has proposed a rule that will require companies to amortize the value of stock options and deduct them off of their earnings statements I simply cannot see how the FASB rule, as proposed, will benefit the investing public. (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 3/10/94, p. S2772)

But Now Kerry Says He Supports Carrying Of Stock Options As Corporate Expense. On an issue related to corporate scandals, Kerry for the first time endorsed the carrying of stock options as a corporate expense. The use of stock options was abused by some companies and contributed to overly optimistic balance sheets. Kerry applauded steps by Microsoft Corp. to eliminate stock options for employees and said all publicly traded companies should be required to expense such options. (Dan Balz, Kerry Raps Bush Policy On Postwar Iraq, The Washington Post, 7/11/03)

Flip-Flopped On Medical Marijuana

Kerry Said His Personal Disposition Is Open To The Issue Of Medical Marijuana. Aaron Houston of the Granite Staters for Medical Marijuana said that just a month ago Mr. Kerry seemed to endorse medical marijuana use, and when asked about the content of his mysterious study, said, I am trying to find out. I dont know. Mr. Kerry did say his personal disposition is open to the issue of medical marijuana and that hed stop Drug Enforcement Administration raids on patients using the stuff under Californias medical marijuana law. (Jennifer Harper, Inside Politics, The Washington Times, 8/8/03)

But Now Kerry Says He Wants To Wait For Study Analyzing Issue Before Making Final Decision. The Massachusetts Democrat said Wednesday hed put off any final decision on medical marijuana because theres a study under way analyzing what the science is. (Jennifer Harper, Inside Politics, The Washington Times, 8/8/03)

Flip-Flopped On Burma Sanctions

In 1995, Kerry Was Against Burma Sanctions. I question whether isolation is a successful means of promoting political change, Kerry told a constituent in a 1995 letter justifying his opposition to a Burma sanction bill. (Geeta Anand, et al., Menino Gets Ahead Of Himself, Starts Contemplating Third Term, The Boston Globe, 5/18/97)

But Now Kerry Supports Burma Sanctions. In his 1996 reelection campaign, Kerry, after Governor William F. Weld took up the cause, was badgered by advisers into shifting his position. But as he eyes a presidential campaign and the Burma sanction movement gains credibility, Kerry describes the Burma regime as a semi-criminalized dictatorship which should not be treated with respect by other nations, but should be instead subject to limitations on travel, investment, and access to the most developed nations. (Geeta Anand, et al., Menino Gets Ahead Of Himself, Starts Contemplating Third Term, The Boston Globe, 5/18/97)

Flip-Flopped On Military Experience As Credential For Public Office

Kerry: Service Should Not Be Litmus Test For Leadership. Mr. President, you and I know that if support or opposition to the war were to become a litmus test for leadership, America would never have leaders or recover from the divisions created by that war. You and I know that if service or nonservice in the war is to become a test of qualification for high office, you would not have a Vice President, nor would you have a Secretary of Defense and our Nation would never recover from the divisions created by that war. (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 10/08/92, p. S17709)

But Now Kerry Constantly Challenges The Stature Of His Democratic Opponents Over Their Lack Of Military Service. And more than ever, Mr. Kerry is invoking his stature as a Vietnam veteran as he challenges the stature of his Democratic opponents -- none of whom, he frequently points out, have worn the uniform of our country -- to withstand a debate with Mr. Bush on national security. (Adam Nagourney, As Campaign Tightens, Kerry Sharpens Message, The New York Times, 8/10/03)

Flip-Flopped On PACs

Kerry Used To Decry Special Interests And Their PAC Money. Im frequently told by cynics in Washington that refusing PAC money is naive, Kerry told his supporters in 1985. Do you agree that it is naïve to turn down special interests and their PAC money? (Glen Johnson, In A Switch, Kerry Is Launching A PAC, The Boston Globe, 12/15/01)

But Now, Kerry Has Established His Own PAC. A week after repeating that he has refused to accept donations from political action committees, Senator John F. Kerry announced yesterday that he was forming a committee that would accept PAC money for him to distribute to other Democratic candidates. Kerrys stance on soft money, unregulated donations funneled through political parties, puts him in the position of raising the type of money that he, McCain, and others in the campaign-finance reform movement are trying to eliminate. (Glen Johnson, In A Switch, Kerry Is Launching A PAC, The Boston Globe, 12/15/01)

Flip-Flopped On $10,000 Donation Limit To His PAC

When Kerry Established His PAC In 2001, He Instituted A $10,000 Limit On Donations. A week after repeating that he has refused to accept donations from political action committees, Senator John F. Kerry announced yesterday that he was forming a committee that would accept PAC money for him to distribute to other Democratic candidates The statement also declared that the new PAC would voluntarily limit donations of so-called soft money to $10,000 per donor per year and disclose the source and amount of all such donations. (Glen Johnson, In A Switch, Kerry Is Launching A Pac, The Boston Globe, 12/15/01)

One Year Later, Kerry Started Accepting Unlimited Contributions. Senator John F. Kerry, who broke with personal precedent last year when he established his first political action committee, has changed his fund-raising guidelines again, dropping a $10,000 limit on contributions from individuals, a cap he had touted when establishing the PAC. The Massachusetts Democrat said yesterday he decided to accept unlimited contributions, which has already allowed him to take in soft money donations as large as $25,000, because of the unprecedented fund-raising demands confronting him as a leader in the Senate Democratic caucus. (Glen Johnson, Kerry Shifts Fund-Raising Credo For His Own PAC, The Boston Globe, 10/4/02)

Flip-Flopped On Using Personal Funds In 1996 Race

In 1996, Kerry And Weld Established $500,000 Limit Of Personal Wealth To Be Used In Senate Campaign. In 1996, Kerry and Weld gave their already noteworthy Senate race added significance by establishing a spending cap. The candidates agreed to spend no more than $6.9 million from July 1 through the election. Weld ended up spending $6.6 million and Kerry $6.3 million. One key element of the agreement limited the candidates to spending $500,000 in personal wealth, a clause Weld favored because Kerry is married to a millionaire, Teresa Heinz. (Glen Johnson, In Kerrys Plan For A Pac, The Resolution Of Opposites, The Boston Globe, 12/18/01)

Kerry Broke Agreement By Spending $1.2 Million Over Limit. [P]ost-election reports showed a last-minute infusion of $1.7 million from Kerrys wife, heiress Teresa Heinz. [K]erry denied that his campaign violated its agreement. The money had been loaned--not contributed--by his wife, he explained. There was nothing in the agreement that restricted us from taking a loan and we paid it back in $1,000 and $2,000 chunks. (Global Ecology Lobby Rocked By Defection, Political Finance, The Newsletter, 1/02)

Flip-Flopped On Israel Security Fence

October 2003: Kerry Calls Fence Barrier To Peace. And I know how disheartened Palestinians are by the Israeli governments decision to build a barrier off the green line, cutting deeply into Palestinian areas. We do not need another barrier to peace. Provocative and counterproductive measures only harm Israels security over the long- term, they increase hardships to the Palestinian people, and they make the process of negotiating an eventual settlement that much harder. (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks Before Arab American Institute National Leadership Conference, Dearborn, MI, 10/17/03)

February 2004: Kerry Calls Fence Legitimate Act Of Self-Defense. US Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the frontrunner in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, described Israels construction of a security barrier as a legitimate act of self defense after Sundays suicide bombing in Jerusalem, clarifying a position he took in October when he told an Arab American audience, We dont need another barrier to peace. (Janine Zacharia, Kerry Defends Security Fence, The Jerusalem Post, 2/25/04)

Kerry Then Claimed To Support Missile Defense. I support the development of an effective defense against ballistic missiles that is deployed with maximum transparency and consultation with U.S. allies and other major powers. If there is a real potential of a rogue nation firing missiles at any city in the United States, responsible leadership requires that we make our best, most thoughtful efforts to defend against that threat. The same is true of accidental launch. If it were to happen, no leader could ever explain not having chosen to defend against the disaster when doing so made sense. (Peace Action Website, Where Do The Candidates Stand On Foreign Policy? http://www.peace-action.org/2004/Kerry.html, Accessed 3/10/04)

Now Kerry Campaign Says He Will Defund Missile Defense. FOX NEWS MAJOR GARRETT: Kerry would not say how much all of this would cost. A top military adviser said the Massachusetts Senator would pay for some of it by stopping all funds to deploy a national ballistic missile defense system, one that Kerry doesnt believe will work. KERRY ADVISOR RAND BEERS: He would not go forward at this time because there is not a proof of concept. (Fox News Special Report, 3/17/03)

Flip-Flopped On 1991 Iraq War Coalition

At The Time, Kerry Questioned Strength Of 1991 Coalition. I keep hearing from people, Well, the coalition is fragile, it wont stay together, and my response to that is, if the coalition is so fragile, then what are the vital interests and what is it that compels us to risk our young Americans lives if the others arent willing to stay the course of peace? I voted against the president, Im convinced were doing this the wrong way  (CBS This Morning, 1/16/91)

Now Kerry Has Nothing But Praise For 1991 Coalition. SEN. JOHN KERRY: In my speech on the floor of the Senate I made it clear, you are strongest when you act with other nations. All presidents, historically, his father, George Herbert Walker Bush, did a brilliant job of building a legitimate coalition and even got other people to help pay for the war. (NBCs Meet The Press, 1/11/04)

Flip-Flopped On View Of War On Terror

Kerry Said War On Terror Is Basically A Manhunt. Kerry was asked about Bushs weekend appearance on Meet the Press when he called himself a war president. The senator, who watched the session, remarked: The war on terrorism is a very different war from the way the president is trying to sell it to us. Its a serious challenge, and it is a war of sorts, but it is not the kind of war theyre trying to market to America. Kerry characterized the war on terror as predominantly an intelligence-gathering and law enforcement operation. Its basically a manhunt, he said. You gotta know who they are, where they are, what theyre planning, and you gotta be able to go get em before they get us. (Katherine M. Skiba, Bush, Kerry Turn Focus To Each Other, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/13/04)

Two Weeks Later, Kerry Flip-Flopped, Saying War On Terror Is More Than A Manhunt. This war isnt just a manhunt  a checklist of names from a deck of cards. In it, we do not face just one man or one terrorist group. We face a global jihadist movement of many groups, from different sources, with separate agendas, but all committed to assaulting the United States and free and open societies around the globe. (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At University Of California At Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 2/27/04)

Flip-Flopped On Funding For Our Troops In Iraq

Kerry Pledged To Fund Reconstruction With Whatever Number Of Dollars It Took. NBCS TIM RUSSERT: Do you believe that we should reduce funding that we are now providing for the operation in Iraq? SEN. JOHN KERRY: No. I think we should increase it. RUSSERT: Increase funding? KERRY: Yes. RUSSERT: By how much? KERRY: By whatever number of billions of dollars it takes to win. It is critical that the United States of America be successful in Iraq, Tim. (NBCs Meet The Press, 8/31/03)
Then Kerry Voted Against Senate Passage Of Iraq/Afghanistan Reconstruction Package. Passage of the bill that would appropriate $86.5 billion in fiscal 2004 supplemental spending for military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill would provide $10.3 billion as a grant to rebuild Iraq, including $5.1 billion for security and $5.2 billion for reconstruction costs. It also would provide $10 billion as a loan that would be converted to a grant if 90 percent of all bilateral debt incurred by the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein has been forgiven by other countries. Separate provisions limit reconstruction aid to $18.4 billion. It also would provide approximately $65.6 billion for military operations and maintenance and $1.3 billion for veterans medical care. (S. 1689, CQ Vote #400: Passed 87-12: R 50-0; D 37-11; I 0-1, 10/17/03, Kerry Voted Nay)

Kerry Later Claimed: I Actually Did Vote For The $87 Billion Before I Voted Against It. (Glen Johnson, Kerry Blasts Bush On Protecting Troops, The Boston Globe, 3/17/04)

Flip-Flopped On Tapping Strategic Petroleum Reserve

In February 2000, Kerry Said Release Of Oil From Strategic Petroleum Reserve Would Not Be Relevant. Without being specific, Kerry, a key member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, suggested the US could retaliate economically in other trade areas. He also said he does not want a release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. A release is not relevant. It would take months for the oil to get to the market, he said. (Cathy Landry, US Energy Chief Warns Of Gasoline Crisis, Platts Oilgram News, 2/17/00)

Now, In March 2004, Kerry Called For Stop In Filling Strategic Petroleum Reserve To Reduce Prices. Kerry would pressure oil-producing nations to increase production and temporarily suspend filling the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, according to campaign documents. ... The Bush administration has put the SPR fill program on automatic pilot without regard to the short-term effect on the US market, the campaign documents said. The program needs better management ... Kerry would temporarily suspend filling SPR until oil prices return to normal levels. (Patricia Wilson, Kerry To Offer Plan To Reduce Record Gasoline Prices, Reuters, 3/29/04)

This is scary. I knew there were a lot of flip flops, but I had no idea there were this many. If Kerry is elected in Nov., this country's screwed.
Credit: Truth SoupThe Only Thing Necessary For Evil To Triumph
Is For Good Men To Do Nothing